Family Sues Over Taser's Use On Boy, 6

March 1, 2006|By Vanessa Blum Staff Writer

The family of a boy who was shot by a Miami-Dade County police officer with a Taser in 2004 has filed a federal lawsuit against the county police department, the school district, and several individuals.

The boy, who was 6 years old and in first grade at the time, was shot with a 50,000-volt Taser during a confrontation with police inside the assistant principal's office at Kelsey Pharr Elementary School in Miami.

The lawsuit, which does not identify the boy by name, charges police personnel with lying about what had happened to justify use of the Taser and accuses school officials of negligence.

Attorney David Gordon, who represents the boy's mother and other family members, says his clients want financial compensation and policy changes for the use of Tasers.

"What made this thing so troubling, is that police were just using these weapons at will," Gordon says.

Detective Nelda Fonticiella, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade Police Department, said the department would not comment on pending legal action.

Fonticiella said the current policy for Tasers does not prevent their use on children.

Vanessa Blum can be reached at vbblum@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4605.